Abrasive belt material for grinding/polishing/cutting tools

ABSTRACT

An material having a polyester fabric base layer, at least one metal layer coated on at least one of two opposite sides of the polyester fabric base layer by chemical plating, and at least one outer abrasive layer of diamond powder or cubic boron nitride bonded to the at least one metal layer by electroplating.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention relates to an abrasive belt material for making grinding/polishing/cutting tools and, more particularly, to such an abrasive belt material, which comprises a metal-coated fabric base and an abrasive layer of diamond powder or CBN (cubic boron nitride) bonded to on one or both sides of the metal-coated fabric base by electroplating.

[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art

[0004] A conventional grinding/polishing/cutting tool is comprised of a metal frame base, and an outer abrasive layer covered on the periphery of the metal frame base. The metal frame base can have any of a variety of shapes, for example, the shape of a wheel. The outer abrasive layer may be made by electroplating of diamond powder/boron nitride on the periphery of the metal frame base. Alternatively, metal, ceramic, and resin materials may be used and sintered to the periphery of the metal frame base to form the desired abrasive layer. A grinding/polishing/cutting tool made according to these methods is not durable in use. Further, vibration tends to be produced during operation of the grinding/polishing/cutting tool, causing damage to the workpiece. Due to vibration problem, a grinding/polishing tool made according to these methods is not suitable for polishing mirrors or the like. There are known soft polishing wheels made of fabrics or furs (wools). However these soft polishing wheels must be used with diamond paste or polishing powder during polishing. This polishing method is less efficient.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The present invention has been accomplished under the circumstances in view. It is the main object of the present invention to provide an abrasive belt material for grinding/polishing/cutting tools, which eliminates the aforesaid drawbacks. It is one object of the present invention to provide an abrasive belt material, which is inexpensive to manufacture. It is another object of the present invention to provide an abrasive belt material, which does not break due to vibration during working. According to the present invention, the abrasive belt material comprises a polyester fabric base layer, at least one metal layer coated on at least one of two opposite sides of the polyester fabric base layer, and at least one outer abrasive layer of diamond powder or CBN (cubic boron nitride bonded to the at least one metal layer by electroplating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing the structure of an abrasive belt material constructed according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is an exploded view of a multi-layer abrasive belt material constructed according to the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 3 shows different grinding/polishing/cutting tools constructed according to the present invention.

[0009]FIG. 4 illustrates a grinding wheel constructed according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0010] Referring to FIG. 1, an abrasive belt material 200 is shown comprised of a flexible base layer 10 and two abrasive layers 30 covered on the two opposite sides of the base layer 10. The flexible base layer 10 is made of polyester fabric, which has both sides respectively covered with a thin film of metal material obtained from, for example, copper, tin, aluminum, or nickel, by means of an electroless plating procedure. After deposition of metal layer or material in the two opposite sides of the base layer 10, the electrically conductive base layer 10 is bonded with abrasive material 20 (diamond powder or cubic boron nitride) by electroplating, forming the desired abrasive layers 30. The aforesaid abrasive belt material 200 is a double-sided structure. Alternatively, the abrasive belt material can be made having only one single abrasive side, i.e., only one abrasive layer 30 covered on one side of the electrically conductive base layer 10.

[0011] According to an alternate form of the present invention, abrasive material 20 (diamond powder or cubic boron nitride) is mixed with a bonding resin and then coated on one or both sides of the electrically conductive base layer 10, forming the desired abrasive belt material 200

[0012] Because the base layer 10 (frame structure) of the abrasive belt material 200 is made of polyester fabric and coated with a thin layer of metal, the abrasive belt material 200 can be made having as thin as 0.2 mm suitable for cutting high-precision or precious materials, for example, 12″ or smaller silicon wafers. An abrasive apparatus constructed according to the present invention can be made having an outer diameter as greater as 1 meter and an inner diameter as greater as 0.8 meter.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2, multiple abrasive belt materials 200 can be bonded to one another by a bonding agent 40, forming a multi-layer abrasive belt material 400.

[0014] Referring to FIG. 3, the invention can be used to make any of a variety of grinding, polishing, or cutting tools.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 4, a multi-layer abrasive belt material 400 is provided at the periphery of a wheel 50, forming an abrasive tool. The wheel 50 can be made of metal or plastics.

[0016] A prototype of abrasive belt material has been constructed with the features of FIGS. 1˜3. The abrasive belt material functions smoothly to provide all of the features discussed earlier.

[0017] Although particular embodiments of the invention have been described in detail for purposes of illustration, various modifications and enhancements may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the invention is not to be limited except as by the appended claims. 

What the invention claimed is:
 1. An abrasive belt material comprising a polyester fabric base layer, at least one metal layer covered on at least one of two opposite sides of said polyester fabric base layer, and at least one outer abrasive layer of diamond powder or cubic boron nitride bonded to said at least one metal layer by electroplating.
 2. An abrasive belt material comprising a polyester fabric base layer, and at least one abrasive layer of a mixture of diamond powder and bonding agent bonded to at least one of two opposite sides of said polyester fabric base layer. 